Which of the following regarding primary motor cortex is false?

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Question restatement: Which of the following regarding the primary motor cortex is false?

Option 1: It is a major point of convergence of sensorimotor signals. This statement is generally true. The primary motor cortex receives input from multiple regions, including premotor areas and somatosensory areas, enabling integration of sensory information with motor plans. It functions as a hub where sensorimotor signals converge to influence voluntary movement.

Option 2: It exhibits somatotopic organisation with cortical magnification. This statement is also true. The primary motor cortex shows a somatotopic map (the motor homunculus) in which different body regions are represented in specific cortical locations, with disproportionate (magnified) representation for more dexterous or finely controlled regions like the hand and face.

Option 3: The activity of individual neurons encodes the direction of movement of a muscle. This statement is false. In the primary motor cortex, movement is encoded at the population level rather than by single neurons pointing to a single muscle. Individual neurons often contribute to specifying preferred directions or force vectors, but they do not map one-to-one to the direction of movement of a single muscle. Movement direction emerges from the combined activity of many neurons and muscles, and there is significant context-dependence and population coding involved.

Option 4: Lesions typically affect the distal extremities more than the trunk. This statement is true. Cortical motor lesions often impact distal limb control (hands, fingers, feet) more prominently than proximal trunk muscles, reflecting the detailed, fine motor control represented in the primary motor cortex for distal musculature.

In summary, the key misconception in these options lies in Option 3: single-neuron direction encoding for a muscle is not how primary motor cortex representation is organized; movement direction is better understood through population coding rather than a single neuron's encoding of a specific muscle direction.

[NEUR2020] Neuroscience for Psychologists (St Lucia). Semester 2, 2025 Quiz 2 PRACTICE [NEUR2020] Neuroscience for Psychologists (St Lucia). Semester 2, 2025 Quiz 2 PRACTICE

Which of the following regarding primary motor cortex is false?

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